Mesopotamia Journal of Agriculture

Many farmers resort to using subsoiler plows with a straight
shank to alleviate soil compaction, but require a high draft. To
process these problems subsoilers with bent and curved shanks
have been designed and manufactured. In the current study, the
efficiency of soil loosening (cm2
. kN-1
), draft force (kN), wasted
power due to slippage (kW), fuel consumption (L.ha.-1
), and
disturbed area (m2
) was investigated for two soil textures (silty
clay and silty loam), three types of shanks (straight, curved, and
bent), and three tillage depths (35,45, and 55) cm. The results
show the superiority of the bent shank at a tillage depth (35) cm
in both soil types, registered less draft force, fuel consumption,
and wasted power due to slippage compared to straight and
curved shanks. Also, the bent shank recorded the highest
efficiency of soil loosening at a tillage depth (35) cm in both soil
types. Besides that, the bent shank at a depth of (35) cm in both
soil types achieved the highest disturbed area. Moreover, at all
tillage depths in both soil types, the bent shank reduced the draft
force, fuel consumption, and wasted power by slippage by (30%,
19%), (19%, 10%), and (30%,15%) compared to the straight and
curved shanks, respectively. While at all tillage depths in both
soil types, the bent shank increased the disturbance area and
efficiency of soil loosing by (7%, 4%) and (15%, 5%) compared
to the straight and curved shanks, respectively.

This research was carried out in Al-Hamdaniya district of Nineveh
governorate, and this study aimed to identify the level of farmers’
application of scientific recommendations for the yellow corn crop in
Al-Hamdaniya district / Nineveh governorate. Identify the level of
yellow maize farmers’ application of scientific recommendations in the
field of cultivation and service of the crop. As well as identifying the
correlation between the level of farmers' application of the scientific
recommendations for the yellow corn crop and each of the following
independent factors (level of education, age, number of years of work
in agriculture, cultivated land area, agricultural information sources) .
The research community included all the farmers of the yellow corn
crop in the Al-Hamdaniya district, who numbered (188) farmers, a
random sample of them was taken at a rate of (50%), and thus the total
number of the respondents was (94). A questionnaire was prepared for
the purpose of data collection. It consisted of two parts, the first
included independent variables data related to the respondents, while
the second part included a scale to measure the level of application of
scientific recommendations by yellow Corn Crop farmers. The results
showed that more than half of the respondents were applying the
scientific recommendations for the yellow corn crop at an average level.
The results also showed that the variables (level of education, age and
number of years of work in agriculture) had a significant correlation
with the level of application of the scientific recommendations by
yellow Corn Crop farmers. While the sources of agricultural
information and the area of cultivated land did not have any significant
impact at the level of application, the research included conclusions, the
most important of which was that the level of application of yellow corn
farmers is average in relation to scientific recommendations, as well as
the absence of a guiding role in the research area, which had the greatest
impact on the application of farmers to scientific recommendations. The
researcher also recommended the establishment of various training
courses on aspects of soil management such as water and agricultural
pest control for the yellow corn crop for workers in agricultural
extension agencies. As for the statistical methods used in the research,
(range and arithmetic mean, Pearson equation and Spearman-Brown
equation).

Wastewater is industrial, and agricultural liquid wastes that
contain biodegradable materials, as well as non-biodegradable
materials and compounds., such as pesticides, and plastic. 80%
of non-treatment wastewater globally is used to irrigate crops
which leads to the accumulation of salts, compounds, and heavy
metals in the soil and crops, which causes soil deterioration and
problems in plant growth and may be transmitted to humans
through the food chain. Nine sites were chosen for wastewater
from Mosul inflow. Samples were collected monthly for each
sites between March 2022 to February 2023. The results
indicated that the concertation of lead, zinc, copper, nickel, and
cobalt ranged (0.179 -1.533), (1.55 -2.69), (Nill-0.442), (0.201 -
0.695) and (0.021-0.081) respectively, most sites exceeded the
Iraqi standard for irrigation. The value of total solids (TDS),
nitrates, phosphates, and sulfates ranged between (493 -845),
(3.6-10.3), (2.3-6.2) and (162-350) respectively, all sites were
within global and Iraqi standard limits for irrigation. Al-Danville
inflow was the most polluted sites with lead and nickel because
they collect industrial wastewater. Wastewater in all sites is
considered very hard and can lead to deposits, blockage of pipes,
and damage to irrigation systems. We recommend not using
wastewater for irrigation in all sites Because it contains high
concentrations of heavy elements and most of the characteristics
exceeded the international and Iraqi standards of irrigation and
this causes soil deterioration and pollution and poses health and
environmental risks.

The research was conducted at the Research Center of the
Department of Animal Production/ College of Agriculture and
Forestry/ University of Mosul/ Iraq. A total of 120 unsexed quail
birds of one day old, were used to study the effect of replacing
different proportions of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens)
instead of soybean meal, on the productive performance of quail
during the growth stage. The birds were randomly distributed into
four treatments as follows: the first is control (without replacement),
second, third and fourth with replacement rates (20, 40 and 60) %
respectively. Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout
the duration of the study, which extended until the birds reached 42
days of age. The productive performance evaluated to assess the
efficiency of substituting black soldier fly larvae at varying
replacement levels instead of soybean meal included final body
weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, vitality
rate, production index and Carcass characteristics. The findings
revealed no significant differences in the variables examined
productive traits among all treatments, indicating the possibility of
replacing black soldier fly larvae powder up to 60% in place of
soybean meal without negatively affecting the productive
performance of the growing quail birds.

The natural regeneration process of forest stands begins with seed
preparation, either from seeds that have fallen onto the soil or from
the seed reserves present on trees, which represents the first stage
in the natural regeneration process. The quantity, quality, viability,
and preparation of seeds vary significantly over intermittent
periods and across several years for most tree species. These
variations are influenced by numerous factors. This study was
conducted in Duhok Governorate, located in northern Iraq, a semiarid region, to determine the effects of stand characteristics,
climate, soil, and topography on the productivity of Pinus brutia
Ten. trees in terms of cones and seeds. The results showed that
several factors such as (Total number of trees for all species per
unit area, number of mother trees and their diameter mean, crown
surface area, spacing between trees per unit area, light percentage,
soil pH, litter thickness, average annual temperature and relative
humidity, total annual precipitation, and soil nitrogen content) were
correlated with the productivity of mother Pinus brutia trees in
terms of cones. Similarly, the number of seeds produced by mother
trees was correlated with factors such as (number of cones
produced per unit area, total number of trees for all species per unit
area, crown surface area of mother trees, spacing between trees per
unit area, soil pH, litter thickness, average annual temperature and
relative humidity, total annual precipitation, elevation, and soil
nitrogen content).

Public relations (PR) in agricultural marketing are often neglected,
causing inefficiency and turnover. This research aimed to assess
the market structure, evaluate the marketing efficiency, and
determine the influence of PR strategies on soy and cow cheese
marketing in Kwara State, Nigeria. Data were collected through
structured interviews with 234 respondents, selected via a twostage sampling technique. The analysis employed descriptive
statistics, the Herfindahl index, marketing efficiency
measurements, market margin calculations, and multiple
regression analysis. The findings revealed that all respondents were
female, with a mean age of 52 years. The soy and cow cheese
marketers' Herfindahl Index values are 0.011 and 0.003,
respectively. Coupled with marketing margins of 39.24% and
33.48%, indicated that soy cheese marketing was more profitable
than cow cheese marketing in the region. Furthermore, the level of
education, number of customers per cycle, and PR strategies were
significant variables influencing the marketing margin of soy
cheese marketers. Conversely, monthly income, number of
customers, and PR strategies were critical factors affecting the
marketing margin of cow cheese marketers. Based on these results,
the study recommends that the government should encourage,
educate, and raise awareness among marketers on the effective
utilization of PR strategies to enhance marketing margins.
Furthermore, to support their operations, policies that aim to give
marketers access to direct and indirect financing facilities should
be promoted.

The study is conducted during the winter season of season 2022-
2023 in two locations, Al-Jarn village/Nimrud district/Nineveh
Governorate and Bartella district, to evaluate the efficiency of
concentrations of herbicides "TARZEC" and "AXIAL" and
seeding rates on the growth and yield of wheat and accompanying
weed, The results showed that the seeding rate of 160 kg h1
recorded the best seed rate for the number weight weed, number of
weeds, the number grains, the number spikes, and the grain yield
amounted to 6.03, 2.05 weed.m2, 3.38, 6.61 g.m2, 38.59, 37.17
grain.spike1, 504.1, 474.1 spike.m2, and 578.73, 516.06 g.m2
for
the above traits and for both locations respectively. weed control
efficiency in weeds number and weight TARZEC 100% and
AXIAL 100% was 65.3%, 60.94%, 64.4%, 51.54%, 55.74%,
53.0%, 46.53% and 49.44% for both locations respectively. the
highest rate of the number of grains in spike, the number of spikes
and the yield of grains was recorded with the TARZEC 100%,
TARZEC+25, AXIAL 100% and AXIAL +25. Conclude from the
above that the best seeding rate is 160 kg.h in addition to the use of
herbicides "TARZEC" and "AXIAL" in the recommended
concentrations.

This study investigated the impacts of poultry manure (PM) as an
organic manure and salicylic acid (SA) as a plant growth stimulant on
sweet basil growth and essential oil over two growing seasons (2023
and 2024). Poultry manure was applied to the soil at rates of 0.0, 4.0,
8.0, and 12.0 m³/fed, while salicylic acid was applied as a foliar spray
[0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200 ppm] .The results demonstrated
that both poultry manure (PM) application at all levels and foliar
spraying with salicylic acid (SA) at all concentrations significantly
increased plant height, number of branches per plant, dry weights of
both herb and leaves, essential oil content, and N, P, and K percentages
in the leaves dry across all three harvests in both seasons. The highest
PM level (12 m³/fed) consistently resulted in the highest growth
values. Furthermore, the 150 ppm SA treatment was the most effective
foliar application for enhancing the studied traits across all cuts.
Significant interaction effects were observed for all examined
parameters. The treatment with the greatest PM level (12 m³/fed) and
150 ppm SA was shown to be the most beneficial for all cuts.

The specific composition of honey can impact its quality. So, the
study aimed to evaluate the characterization and differentiation of
physicochemical, biological, and melissopalynology analysis of
three types of honey (fennel, anise, and coriander honey) from upper
Egypt. The physicochemical properties (E.C, specific gravity,
T.S.S, moisture, pH, free acidity, lactone, total acidity, (HMF), and
total protein) were determined. The EC values ranged from (0.24-
0.67 ms/cm), (0.28±0.02 ms/cm), and (0.21-0.46 ms/cm) at Fennel,
Anise and Coriander honey respectively. The HMF content of
honey samples varied from (0.96-38.78 ppm), (5.76-40.32 ppm) at
Fennel and Anise honey, but Coriander honey ranged (1.54 to 33.02
ppm). In addition, total flavonoid content, total phenolic content,
antibacterial, and antioxidant activity, and melissopalynology
analysis were also evaluated in the samples. The physicochemical
parameters of honey types are generally similar. As such, it isn't
easy to differentiate between three types of honey based on the
physicochemical analysis. Still, there’s a significant difference in
phenolic content between coriander honey and fennel or anise
honey. In comparison, no significant differences were recorded in
total flavonoid content or antioxidant activity among the three types
of honey and flavonoid showed a highly significant positive
correlation with antioxidant activity, in addition, the data of
antibacterial were generally similar in the three types of honey
under study, melissopalynology analysis showed that there’s a slight
difference in the shape of fennel, anise, coriander pollen grain. The
difficulty of differentiating these honey types may be due to the
similarity in plant chemical composition, which belongs to the same
plant family (Apiaceae). This study will help the researcher and
honey producer identify pure honey and verify its authenticity.

The objective of this study was to preparing a proposed model for
downward accountability as an approach to improving the quality of
agricultural extension services provided to farmers in Iraq. To
achieve this goal, a framework was designed, incorporating 90
evaluation criteria distributed across eight domains, namely:
Evaluation of the Feasibility of Services, Evaluation of Farmers'
Participation, Evaluation of the Content of Extension Services,
Evaluation of the Methods and Approaches for Delivering Extension
Services, Evaluation of Farmers' Accountability of Extension
Service Providers, Evaluation of the Outcomes of Extension
Services Provided to Farmers, Evaluation of Farmers' Satisfaction
with Services, and Evaluation of the Responsiveness of Extension
Service Providers. Data were collected from a stratified random
sample of 395 respondents across eight Iraqi governorates (Nineveh,
Salah al-Din, Baghdad, Diyala, Babylon, Najaf, Maysan, and
Muthanna) through a structured questionnaire administered during
the last third of 2024.The results indicated that the mean approval
ratings for the proposed accountability model domains ranged
from(4.28-4.39) on a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree,
somewhat agree, disagree, strongly disagree), with numerical values
ranging from(5-1).indicating strong agreement with the model.
Moreover, the findings showed no statistically significant
differences across most domains, suggesting a high level of
consensus among respondents regarding the model’s importance and
effectiveness in improving the quality of agricultural extension
services. Based on these findings, we recommend that policymakers
and decision-makers in the Ministry of Agriculture and the
agricultural extension system adopt the proposed model by
integrating downward accountability mechanisms into agricultural
extension programs and initiatives aimed at farmers in Iraq.

Land suitability assessments are pivotal for sustainable land use
planning, agricultural productivity, and environmental
management. Despite substantial advancements, a
comprehensive understanding of methodologies, applications,
and sustainability challenges across diverse contexts remains
limited. This systematic literature review aims to address these
gaps by examining advancements, regional practices, and
adaptation strategies in land suitability assessments. Using the
PRISMA framework, an advanced search of Scopus and Web of
Science databases identified 34 eligible studies (n = 34) for
analysis. These studies were categorized into three key themes:
(1) advancements in methodologies, including GIS-based multicriteria decision-making (MCDM), machine learning, and
hybrid models; (2) applications of land suitability for specific
crops and regions, highlighting varying ecological and socioeconomic factors influencing implementation; and (3)
sustainability and adaptation in land use planning, focusing on
the integration of climate resilience and resource conservation.
Results indicate that GIS-MCDM approaches dominate,
representing 65% of the studies, with machine learning and
hybrid methods contributing 20% and 15%, respectively. The
review underscores the increasing role of advanced technologies
such as remote sensing and IoT in improving precision, yet
challenges persist in parameter selection, data quality, and
integrating socio-environmental dimensions. This review
concludes that while progress in methodologies and applications
is evident, future efforts must emphasize sustainability and
adaptive strategies to address evolving land use challenges. The
findings provide critical insights for researchers and
policymakers to enhance land suitability assessments and
promote sustainable development practices.